It's a shame more people don't like pop music doused with classical chimes and weird gothic overtones and performed by a singer with a penchant for not wearing very much clothing, because Sarah Brightman's concerts sound like incredibly mind-bending experiences. See for yourself when the former Broadway star and ex-Mrs. Andrew Lloyd Webber plays Wednesday at HP Pavilion in San Jose. In a show that blends 3-D holographs with fairy-tale-inspired dramatic sequences, Brightman will perform songs from her most recent studio album, "Symphony," and its holiday companion, "A Winter Symphony." We spoke to the 48-year-old British singer by phone from her home in Los Angeles.

Q:On this tour you have holographic worlds, laser-guided confetti and a part where you dress up like Little Red Riding Hood, ride a bike and rap. It sounds like a Kanye West show.

A: It's something new for the audience. The technology in the past five years offered me different worlds. There are little references to "The Wizard of Oz." There's a "Phantom" moment. There are "Alice in Wonderland" moments. The rap part is a reference to the dark, gothic side of fairy tales and the wolves and taking one into a more Christmassy section. There are little vignettes that take you into different worlds as you go into the next song.

Q:Oh, man. It sounds crazier than I thought.

A: It's fun. It was a whole year of preparation for all of this.

Q:Wouldn't it just be easier to hire the guy who did the stage sets for Madonna's 1993 tour?

A: I thought very seriously about bringing in an art director, but then I decided, no, what people want to see is what comes off of my own head.

Q:I bet your bathroom at home looks awesome.

A: If I work with any interior designer, I drive them nuts - completely nuts. Life can be so textured and colorful; we're here for such a short time, I just try and make the most of it.

Q:Will you come over to my house before the concert and make it less boring?

A: OK, I will. To tell you the truth, I love minimalism as well. My set is actually incredibly simplistic. It's just a few screens on white pathways in the center. If you came to my house in London, that's what you would see as well: a white room.

Q:I'm sure your fans would be just as happy if you came out and sang in one of your see-through dresses.

A: Yes, you're right. When I do a more classical type of concert, then I just walk out onstage in a nice dress and that's it. My concerts are not moneymaking situations at all. I like to leave the audience walking out of there saying, "I got good value for my money, and I really enjoyed myself and the music and everything."

Q:What are your Christmas plans?

A: I don't have any plans. With my life, I need something simple and easy. I think I'm just going to spend the time with my boyfriend in Los Angeles.

Q:Wait, that doesn't work. Sarah Brightman can't unwrap her presents by the pool.

A: I was thinking about maybe finding snow somewhere. I hear three hours outside of Los Angeles one can find snow. I'm going to look into that.